For the first time in many years, the flexographic newspaper printing industry received notable attention at Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association’s 2008 Forum, at Dallas, Texas' Hilton Anatole Hotel. Working in conjunction with NPFUG (Newspaper/Publication Flexo Users Group), sessions dedicated to the topic were held on the mornings of April 28 and 29. Bill Wagenbaur of The Wichita Eagle and Jean Jackson of Allison Systems chaired the sessions, which ran and functioned similarly to the annual NPFUG meeting. 

Mark Cisternino, FTA president, opened the first program on Monday, April 28 to explain the Association’s numerous benefits and programs in detail, for those NPFUG members who were not active FTA members.

North American Cerutti’s Danielle Temporin talked about a new press at Harmsworth Quays Printing (HQP) in Didcot, Great Britain, which went online on Aug. 1, 2007. Temporin noted that fewer people are needed to operate the new press. Aaron Julian of the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA, showed attendees diagrams and photos of the first U.S. installation of a flexo newspaper press in seven years, which took place at his facility. 

Thomas Hauser of MacDermid Printing Solutions and Justin Green of Anderson & Vreeland followed with a panel discussion of new CTP systems. Hauser referenced two new installations at the Providence (RI) Journal. Green, speaking on behalf of Toyobo Co., discussed plate processors that use brushes to remove photopolymer, and which are currently in trials at Chattanooga Times Free Press. 

Green also presented on water recovery units. These close-loop systems remove solids that can be disposed of in a landfill. The liquid, he said, can be reused or sent down the drain. Gary Cummings, Printink, added that recovery units are now automated, but used to take several people to operate. Much water is generated from clean up, which can be, and is often, stored and processed over time to remove contaminants. 

First thing Tuesday, Helmut Schmidt, KBA North America updated the audience on a new doctor blade chamber in use at HQP. Sixty-four new printing couples with a closed-ink circulation system and the latest generation ink chamber were installed. End seals on the new installations last about 12 weeks, and HQP saw better density and color control. 

Jackson took the stage next to review results of tests done with various doctor blade types. A new blanket technology was touted by Jeff Randazzo, Controlled Displacement Technologies. The material is ribbed instead of cellular. Each rib is angled at 45 degrees to absorb pressure. “As you start out with pressure, it responds like soft foam,” he said. “When you increase pressure, it responds like harder foams.” 

Tackling the topic of G7 was Dave Merkley of American Color Print. G7 uses spectrophotometry, RIP’s and CTP to force proofs and press to achieve a visual match. This is done by measuring gray components directly, he stated. 

Cindy Trenary and Sten Nillson of The Wichita Eagle talked about undertaking a web-width reduction. “We had a lot of rollers and rings that had to be modified,” said Nillson. He suggested that attendees “let the machine shop show you how they will do the work.”

FTA's complete Forum offering, to include access to the much heralded 160-booth INFO*FLEX exhibition, was opened to NPFUG members as part of the historic cooperative arrangement, devised to introduce and expose newspaper production personnel to the entire flexographic printing and converting industry.